Alpha-Lipoic Acid

• What other names is Alpha-lipoic Acid known by?
• What is Alpha-lipoic Acid?
• How does Alpha-lipoic Acid work?
• Are there safety concerns?
• Are there any interactions with medications?
• Dosing considerations for Alpha-lipoic Acid.

What other names is Alpha-lipoic Acid known by?

Acetate Replacing Factor, A-Lipoic Acid, Acide Alpha-Lipoïque, Acide Alpha-Lipoïque R, Acide DL-Alpha-Lipoïque, Acide Lipoïque, Acide Thioctique, Acide 1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoïque, Acide 1,2-dithiolane-3-valérique, Acide 5 Valérique (1,2-dithiolan-3-yl), Acide 6,8-dithiooctanoïque, Acide 6,8-Thioctique, Acido Alfa Lipoico, Alpha-Lipoic Acid Extract, ALA, Biletan, Extrait d'acide Alpha-Lipoïque, Lipoic Acid, Lipoicin, R-ALA, R-Alpha-Lipoic Acid R, S-Alpha Lipoic Acid, (R)-Lipoic Acid, R-Lipoic Acid, RS-Alpha-Lipoic Acid Thioctacid, Thioctan, Thioctic Acid, 1,2-dithiolane-3-pentanoic acid, 1,2-dithiolane-3-valeric acid, 6,8-dithiooctanoic acid, 6,8-thioctic acid, 5-(1,2-dithiolan-3-yl) valeric acid.

What is Alpha-lipoic Acid?

Alpha-lipoic acid is a vitamin-like chemical called an antioxidant. Yeast, liver, kidney, spinach, broccoli, and potatoes are good sources of alpha-lipoic acid. It is also made in the laboratory for use as medicine.

Possibly Effective for...

• Treating type 2 diabetes.
• Improving symptoms such as burning, pain, and numbness in the legs and arms of people with diabetes.

Possibly Ineffective for...

• Treating alcoholic liver disease.
• Treating HIV-related brain problems.
• Treating a heart-related nerve problem called cardiac autonomic neuropathy.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

• Dementia, eye problems, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), HIV/AIDS, cancer, Lyme disease, Wilson's disease, heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, claudication, aging skin and wrinkles, Amanita mushroom poisoning, and other conditions.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).